This is one of the letters found in a bog in Ireland. NEWS: David
JACKSON sailing to Far East on "The Wasp"; Mrs. Dr. BROWNE died;
Sam BRADFORD puts Cavananore into the Land Courts.
Sharon Oddie Brown. October 6, 2006

I
take shame to myself for being so long without answering your kind
and affectionate letters, which reached me on the 17th inst.
Of all my correspondents you should be the last to be neglected;
for you never neglected me; since the happy day that made you my
Daughter.

It
is a great mercy that your health, and that of the children has continued
good; notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather; which you must
feel all the more from having lived so long in a warm climate. And
how can we ever be thankful enough for Tom’s
[2]
continued health and safety. A blessing seems
to attend him, both by land and by sea. Also I saw this week in a
letter from young Thompson Brown
[3]
, that the Bank shares are rising in value. I fully
expected that it would be so; once Thomas again took the management.
Also I hear that the “Wasp”
[4]
has been heard of. I hope it is true. But let
me know if it is so, when you write. I shall feel a little anxious
till I hear that David
[5]
has landed safely. Though I know that there is
a Providence by sea, as well as by land, I have rather a dread of
the sea; having never been out of my native land.

I
have but little worth writing this time; but probably I shall have
more in my next letter; as Sally’s
[6]
confinement draws near. She is well, and so are
all your Irish friends. My ear keeps discharging matter; but it is
not painful; and is probably only an effort of nature to relieve
itself. It would not be wise to take any measure to stop this discharge.

Many
thanks for your kind offer of tea; but I do not require any; as two
packages of tea have been sent to me anonymously. I concluded that
Tom must be the sender, though he did not write.

Mrs Dr Browne
[7]
died last Friday
[8]
after a short illness. It is a great pity of the
poor old Doctor. They had lived long and happily together.

Did
I tell you that Sam Bradford
[9]
has put Cavananore into the Land Court, with a
view of having the rent reduced? That man has wrought us one annoyance;
but he can do nothing more that the Lord permits; and his time will
come. Of course the Trustees will make the best defence they can.

I
hope the children are doing well at school. They seemed to me to
be very intelligent; and better than even that; very amiable. Does
Julius
[10]
still continue sweeping? If so, he has plenty to
do now.

I
hope you are comfortable in all respects; and as happy as you can
be without Tom.

The
old Governor
[11]
joins in much love to you and the children, with
your ever affectionate Mother,

[5]
David JACKSON, youngest surviving brother of Sir Thomas JACKSON returning
to duty with HSBC in the Far East.

[6]
“Sally” Sarah JACKSON wife of Eliezer GILMORE.Her son
Thomas Jackson GILMORE would be born November 11th 1887.

[7]
Date of death would have been October 28, 1887. My best guess is that this may be the wife of a Dr. William
Herbert BROWNE who was the brother of Daniel Gunn BROWNE. I have
nothing on either him or her and her family – although it is
also intriguing that Thompson BROWN named a son “Herbert” (my
instincts feel there might be a connection here between the two BROWNE families.). Album 4
from Gilford Castle has a photo of a William BROWN and his daughter
Miriam..